The Oregon State Library, after consulting with the Oregon academic library community in 2001, made the decision to only collect interlibrary loan, staffing, and directory data annually. In 2007 the State Library discontinued asking for data with the Oregon Academic Library Survey. The State Library may do an annual survey for directory updates.

The National Center for Education Statistics conducts the http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/academic.asp (ALS) in even numbered years for institutions that respond to the IPEDS survey. The ALS is reported directly to NCES on a Web-based form. The statistics collection process begins in November, with statistics for the previous fiscal year (July 1-June 30) normally due in February.

Surveys

Oregon Academic Library SurveyIn 2007 the State Library discontinued asking for data with the Oregon Academic Library Survey. The State Library may do an annual survey for directory updates. If there is a change in the contact information for the library during the school year, please notify Library Support and Development Services by contacting Ferol Weyand at (503) 378-2525 or email ferol.weyand@state.or.us.

NCES Academic Library SurveyThis sample is provided to give new Directors a sense of what the federal form will ask for. This is the form and instructions for the 2004 by the National Center for Education Statistics. The way library branches/campuses are listed in the NCES survey depends on how the institution reported in the IPEDS.

To report this survey, your Internet browser should be set to always accept cookies, enable Java Script, and look for newest version of a stored page. For Netscape, set cache memory to zero. for assistance, email govs.aclib@census.gov.

What happens to your ALS data

The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) works closely with the American Library Association (ALA), and the U.S. Census Bureau to design and conduct the academic library survey. The U.S. Census Bureau is data collection agent for the NCES.

After statistics are turned into the U.S. Census Bureau on a Web-based form, it compiles the data and checks it for values outside the "norm". When a figure is an outlier, outside of normal variance to current or past data, the same edit checks that you see in in the Web collection software are raised. If there is no note attached to the data that verifies its accuracy, the Census contacts respondents to seek clarification.

After the Census has checked the data, the preliminary data file is sent to the NCES for review. The data is run again against statistical formulas to check for outliers. Census also delivers preliminary tables to NCES to review for data quality.

When the final data file is approved, the Census will go back and use standard formulas to "impute" data, that is, provide estimates for missing data. The preliminary imputed file is then sent to NCES for review. Approved data is then produced in the E. D. Tabs and published. This process takes at least a year. The data is loaded on the peer comparison tool as soon as it is approved, which is often before the E.D. Tab is published.